Choosing the right designer for your small business can be hard if you do not know what you should look for. Here is a simple guide that you can use to make sure you ask the right questions and make an educated decision every time.

Steps

1

Find a website design company. The easiest way is to Google them or look in your phone book.

2

Evaluate the website design company's site and own portfolio. Any company can say they have great designs but a company’s portfolio should speak for itself. To adequately judge a website you must look at: Quality of design, ease of use, initial impressions, how the site compares to others in the same industry, consistent look throughout each site, and ease of navigation.

3

Ask them what their technical expertise is. Don't be afraid of bringing specific things up such as: Do they test on Mac and PC? Do they offer Search Engine Optimization? Do they use templates? Do they have their own servers? Do they consider accessibility and standards?

4

Look at their attention to detail. Sometimes the smallest things can make all the difference. Look for: Page titles - each page should be unique and descriptive. Terms of use pages - every site should have a terms of use and a privacy statement. Use of contact forms rather than published email addresses - this will reduce spam.